One year later: IHIT says no suspect in murder of Burnaby teen Marrisa Shen

Marrisa Shen/ IHIT

One year after 13-year-old Burnaby teenager Marrisa Shen was killed in Central Park, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said there still have been no suspects identified.

IHIT Cpl. Frank Jang told media that the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with information to come forward to authorities.

Marrisa Shen was last seen at home on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.

Police began looking for Shen just after 11:30 pm, and discovered her body in the southeast side of the park at around 1:10 am on the morning of July 19.

This map shows where Marrisa Shen’s body was found (IHIT)

Jang was unable to provide any new updates, repeating that the investigation was ongoing.

“Today after a year we are collecting evidence,” he said. “I can tell you we are in constant communication with the family. The message to them is that we haven’t given up on Marrisa.”

Jang said that to date IHIT has received over 200 tips from the general public and spoken to nearly 1,300 residents in the area.

IHIT have provided this full size image of Marrisa Shen, whose body was found in Burnaby’s Central Park (IHIT)

When asked if IHIT was any closer to solving the case than they were one year ago Jang investigators “absolutely” had more information.

“We don’t just sit on our thumbs and do nothing,” he added.

Jang revealed that Shen was getting ready to travel to China to visit friends before she was murdered.

Today marks the 1 yr anniversary of the homicide of 13y/o Marrisa Shen in Burnaby’s Central Park. Over 200 tips followed up on, over 1 thousand hrs of video reviewed, over 600 interviews conducted so far… Contact #IHIT today w/ your videos & info. pic.twitter.com/lL4FI4XQKZ

— IHIT (@HomicideTeam) July 18, 2018

In April, IHIT announced they had developed a criminal profile of the persons responsible.

Criminal profilers believe the unknown offender may have lived near Central Park on July 18, 2017. They also added the following details about the potential suspect(s):

Unexpectedly moved (permanently or temporarily)
Uncharacteristically avoided the Central Park area
Withdrew from social or family activities
Missed work or scheduled appointments
Showed suicidal gestures or attempts
Showed interest or special attention to the media coverage related to Marrisa Shen`s death
Increased or decreased his or her drug and/or alcohol use

IHIT has also dedicated a separate website to the Shen investigation. Updates and video footage of Shen’s last whereabouts can be found on the site.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448), or by email at [email protected]. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or leave a tip online at solvecrime.ca.

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